2012 Annual Winter Conference Mauna Lani Resort The Big Island, Hawaii January 25-28, 2012
AACBNC
INTRODUCTION
The AACBNC is developing an exciting and informative program for our Annual Winter Conference in Hawaii, January 25-28, 2012. Please see below for information about Meeting Registration, the Meeting Program Summary, and Reservations at the Mauna Lani Resort. Please reserve your rooms early. There are a limited number of rooms available at the low rates. These very favorable rates can be extended for a few days before and after the conference. For your hotel reservations, please use either the • faxable hotel reservation form or the • on-line direct link or • call the reservation desk at the hotel: 1-800-367-2323 (be sure to mention "Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology 2012”)
Note: if you use the on-line link, you will need to call the hotel to add in your breakfasts to your room rates as this is currently not showing on the live link.
Information on activities including Kilauea, Mauna Kea, Hilo, golf, snorkeling, SCUBA , restaurants and just relaxing will be posted in the near future.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM SUMMARY
SCIENTIFIC SESSION: Four speakers will share the scientific session.
1) There continues to be intense interest in cytoskeleton both in traditional cell biology and in novel biomedical research. Paul G. Fitzgerald, Professor and Chair of Cell Biology and Anatomy at UC Davis will describe unique intermediate filaments in the lens from their molecular structure and their cell and tissue function.
2) Gene therapy continues to hold promise for innovative clinical approaches to major medical problems. Progress in eye diseases has been among the most dramatic. Dr. Jay Neitz will present a multidisciplinary approach to the Genetic Basis for Normal and Abnormal Visual Function.
3) The expectations for successful gene therapy in human disease were advanced significantly by the cure of color blindness in non-human primates. Dr. Maureen Neitz will present the current status of her research on gene therapy in retinal disease using an adeno associated viral vector (AAV).
4) Synaptic connectivity is a fundamental problem in understanding normal and abnormal neural circuits in the nervous system. Rachel Wong will discuss her experiments using the sophisticated live cell technologies to characterize synaptogenesis in living zebrafish and mice.
PANEL DISCUSSION: Modern Cell and Molecular Biology in Research and Education
EDUCATIONAL SESSION: This session is still being finalized. There will be a review of current data on Human Structure at all levels in Health Care Education. A presentation is planed on the proposed three year education of MDs. A Panel Discussion will follow.
ADMINISTRATIVE/GOVERNMENT SESSION: Presentations on the current status of Health Care funding for education and research are being planned. A panel discussion will follow.
The Sunday schedule consists of an informal Networking Breakfast.
Let us know what questions you have -- email the AACBNC secretary-treasurer, Rick Sumner (rick_sumner@rush.edu).
AACBNC MEETING REGISTRATION
The AACBNC Meeting Registration form can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat reader and should be printed, completed, and faxed to (312) 942-5744 or mailed to the Association address on the form. For meeting registrations via credit card, call (312) 942-5502.
There are a limited number of excellent rooms. Please register for the Meeting and get your hotel reservation booked (see next section for booking your room!)
If you have difficulty with the online form, please email Sandra Williams at sandurett_williams@rush.edu and provide your name and fax number to obtain a faxed copy.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
It is imperative to MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS PROMPTLY to ensure room availability. You have three options to make your reservations:
Note: if you use the on-line link, you will need to call the hotel to add in your breakfasts to your room rates as this is currently not showing on the live link.
Ocean View @ $260/night Ocean View with breakfast buffet for 2 @ $310/night Deluxe Ocean View @ $271/night Deluxe Ocean View with breakfast buffet for 2 @ $321/night Taxes extra
Room rates include valet or regular parking, $20 spa gift card for each guest and the resort guest fee is waived. There are many other complimentary services including internet and WiFi, Fitness Club, lap pool, snorkeling equipment, in-room coffee, bottled water, daily newspaper, beach cabanas, fish and turtle feeding tours, ukulele lessons, and a Hula lesson
Please note that pre-meeting and post-meeting room reservation extensions up to a maximium of three days may be arranged at the group rate on a space available basis.
Our conference will be held at the Mauna Lani Bay in Hawaii: “Amidst mountains and the sea on the sunny Kohala Coast on the tropical Island of Hawaii, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows offers an exceptional experience with unparalleled value. Whether enjoying a morning tee time between ink-jet black lava and lush greens, getting pampered at the uniquely Hawaiian inspired Mauna Lani Spa or dining ocean-front, Mauna Lani allows you to be yourself. Discover your own journey of relaxation and inspiration at Mauna Lani.”
AACBNC Registered guests of the Mauna Lani will enjoy the following complimentary services. • Internet and WiFi access • Mauna Lani Sports & Fitness Club • Selection of complimentary Fitness Classes • Tennis (first hour of play) • Golf Clinics Snorkeling equipment • Daily newspaper delivered to guestroom • Valet and Self-parking • Bicycles to tour the resort • Jogger’s amenity station with water and towels • Beach cabanas • Historic tours of petro glyphs and fishponds • Fish and turtle feeding tours • Ukulele lessons • Hula Lessons
There are many additional amenities as well as reduced green fees for the golfers!
AACBNC HAWAII MEETING SCHEDULE IN BRIEF
Wednesday January 25, 2011 Welcome Socializer AACBNC meeting attendees arrive in Hawaii. 7:00 pm - Welcome Socializer (Sand Volleyball Court)
Thursday January 26 *Breakfast in the Bay Terrance Restaurant (6:30 - 10:30 am) 8:30 am Morning Meeting Session (Ballroom II) 10:00 -10:30 am Coffee break 12:30 pm Morning Session concludes (Lunch on your own)
Friday January 27 *Breakfast in the Bay Terrance Restaurant (6:30 - 10:30 am) 8:30 am Morning Meeting Session (Ballroom II) 10:00 -10:30 am Coffee break 12:30 pm Morning Session concludes (Lunch on your own) 6:00 - 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception (Milo Tree Lawn) 7:00 – 9:30 pm Banquet Dinner (Milo Tree Lawn)
Saturday January 28 *Breakfast in the Bay Terrance Restaurant (6:30 - 10:30 am) 8:30 am Morning Meeting Session (Ballroom II) 10:00 -10:30 am Coffee break 12:30 pm Morning Session concludes (Lunch on your own)
Sunday January 29 *Breakfast in the Bay Terrance Restaurant (6:30 - 10:30 am)
** NOTE: If you want breakfast, please select the appropriate room reservation option or add to your room reservation at the time of check-in.
RECOMMENDED TRAVEL PLANS
Please plan to arrive in Hawaii early enough on (or before) Wednesday to enjoy the Welcome Socializer at 7 pm. Check-in time at the hotel is 3 pm and checkout is noon. You can book up to 3 extra days before or after the conference at the AACBNC rate if there is room availability. The recommended airport on the Big Island for our meeting is the Kona Airport (KOA) as it is on the west side of the island near the resort. The resort is approximately 17 miles north of the Kona Airport. Since parking at the hotel is free, a rental car is a good option. Major car rentals at the airport include Hertz, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and National. Special car rental rates may be available at priceline or cheap kona car rental. A taxi from the airport is around $75 one-way. Click here to arrange shuttle service. If for some unseen reason you have trouble with the shuttle link above go to Speedi Shuttle's website and use GROUP CODE ID 43349.
WEATHER & CLIMATE
Weather on all of the Hawaiian Islands is consistent, offering only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only two seasons: the summer months that extend from May to October and the winter months that run from November to April. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85 ˚F (29.4 ˚C), while the average daytime winter temperature is 78 ˚F (25.6 ˚C). Temperatures at night are approximately 10 ˚F lower. However, at higher elevations, temperatures can drop dramatically.
HAWAII & INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES
The big Island is one of the most varied locations to visit in the world. Most visitors want to arrange their own activities through the hotel concierge. From the Mauna Lani Resort, there are several opportunites that cannot be found anywhere else:
BEACHES: Beautiful beaches and water sports are offered at the resort. Mask, fins and snorkels are complimentary at the Hotel Beach Center.
SNORKEL BEACHES:Mauna Lani: There are 3 beaches within walking distance of the Mauna Lani Hotel. The first is directly in front of the hotel. SOUTH: Follow the path on the water side of the fish ponds to Makaiwa Bay beach in front of the Beach Club. Lining the sides of the beach are rock and coral formations with good snorkeling. NORTH: Follow the path North to the Pauoa Bay beach in front of the Fairmont Hotel.
NORTH: Hapuna Beach State Park is one of the finest sandy beaches on the big island and was voted the best beach in the US on a number of occasions. Good coral heads are directly off the beach. There are showers and restrooms.
SOUTH of Kona (about 5 miles) is the Kahaluu Beach Co Park near the Keauhou Hotel. It is excellent snorkeling and can be busy. A tiny chapel by the sea is adjacent to the beach.
FURTHER SOUTH: Kealakekua Bay State Historical and Underwater Park where the Capt Cook Monument was placed. It is a beautiful site and snorkeling is excellent.
Snorkel tours are available through several groups. Capt. Zodiak (www.captainzodiac.com/index.html) is well known for small group requests. Tours by boat allow excellent access.
KAYAKING & Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards: Kayaks and SUPs at the Hotel Beach Center or the Beach House. (Kayaks can be rented at most beaches around the islands. There are Kayak tours companies for guided options.)
The Mauna Lani Resort website includes information on local activities at www.maunalani.com/sitemap.html Click the menu .US. for Hawaiiana, Green, and Activities/Events featuring special activities related to Hawaii. As you will see, there are menus for golf, spa, dining etc.
RESORT ACTIVITIES are published daily and include beach activities, kayaks, guided snorkeling, arts, fitness & tennis, golf, saltwater pond & naturalist tours of the Mauna Lani, etc. There are regular shuttles to Waikaloa Village where there are shopping areas. The resort has complimentary bicycles for local touring. Contact Mauna Lani information at 866-519-2747 or email reservations@maunalani.com
HIKING: The state park website (www.hawaiistateparks.org) lists accessible trails which are easy to moderate.
RESTAURANTS: Roy's is a fine restaurant in the King.s Market at Waikaloa Village and may require reservations. Sensei in Queen.s Market at Waikaloa Village may be the best Japanese restaurant in the area. Pesto at Kawaihae Harbor (about 20 minutes N. of the Mauna Lani) or Hilo (2.5 hours) is good; Bamboo at Hawi (40 min.North) features a varied Hawaiian menu. The Canoe House at the Mauna Lani is very good (reservations may be needed). The Orchid at the Fairmont (a short shuttle or walk) is good but probably not as good as Canoe House; Fine dining at the Hilton Waikaloa is Kamuela Provision Company, which may need a reservation. Huggo's is a very well known restaurant over the water in the town Kona. It is impressive for its sunsets but often closes when the surf is up (reservations needed).
TRIP TO HILO: Hilo is about 2.5 hours drive and the drive to Kilauea is about another hour. There are several sites between the Mauna Lani and Hilo. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens very nice. There are no ziplines here. The U of Hawaii at Hilo has a separate botanical garden which is thought to be very good. Ziplines at the Waipia Bay are considered excellent. Akaka Falls near Hilo is a very impressive, short walk from a parking area. On the Northern tip of the island, the Waipio valley is spectacular. There are zip lines. 4wheel drive is required to descend to the valley floor and surfing beach. Hilo is known for shopping and the Tsunami museum. Just outside the city are orchi farms.
RIDING: The famous Parker Ranch is a tourist site. Waimea is about 30 minutes from the Mauna Lani.
HELICOPTER TOURS: Blue Hawaiian Helicopters have a flight center a few miles from the hotel. There are spectacular night flights over the volcanoes.
DEEP SEA FISHING: The charter fishing fleet is about 20 minutes from the hotel. Reservations can be made with the hotel.
RAFTING tours are available through the hotel.
WHALE WATCHING: Whale watching tours can be organized through the hotel.
Swim with the dolphins = Dolphin Quest is at Waikaloa Village which is adjacent to the Mauna Lani.
SAILING RESERVATIONS: Sailing can be arranged through the hotel.
CONTACTS
Hotel Information, Reservations, or General Questions: Reservations: 800-367-2323 (“Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology 2012”) General hotel: 800-356-6652 Hotel fax: 808-885-1483 http://www.maunalani.com/
For Meeting Registration: Sandra Williams Phone: (312)-942-5502 Fax: (312)942-5744 sandurett_williams@rush.edu